Irrigation nozzles

ABSTRACT

An irrigation nozzle of the type having a jet adapted to be connected to water supply and provided with a delivery orifice through which a stream of water is delivered in use, and a planar deflection surface located in the path of the water stream with its plane at right angles to the axis thereof, wherein the jet and the deflection surface are rigidly connected by a pair of symmetrically disposed, outwardly extending U-shaped arms, the mid points of which are flattened relative to the remainder of the arms and spaced from the jet by a distance sufficient to ensure a substantially uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle in use.

United States Patent ml .s0i,459 4/1931 Slauter 239/524 x gfi gg gz gz Lmlehampmn' Primary Examiner- Lloyd L. King [21] A I N 809 20 1 g Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr.

[22] Fif d M 21 9 Arl0rney-Shoemaker& Mattare [45] Patented June 22, i971 [54] IRRIGATION NOZZLES 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: An irrigation nozzle of the type having a jet adapted to be connected to water supply and provided with a delivery orifice through which a stream of water is delivered in use, and a planar deflection surface located in the path of the water stream with its plane at right angles to the axis thereof, wherein the jet and the deflection surface are rigidly connected by a pair of symmetrically disposed, outwardly extending U-shaped arms, the mid points of which are flattened relative to the remainder of the arms and spaced from the jet by a distance sufficient to ensure a substantially uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle in use.

l-mmim IRRIGATION NOZZLES This invention relates to irrigation nozzles and more particularly to nozzles of the type comprising a jet adapted to be connected to a supply of water and having a delivery orifice through which a stream of water is delivered in use, and a planar deflection surface located in the path of the water stream with its plane at right angles to the axis thereof, so that the stream of water impinges on the deflection surface to produce a laterally directed spray of atomized liquid around the nozzle. In use, the nozzle is normally mounted so that the stream of water is directed upwardly against the deflection surface located above the jet.

in such nozzles, the spacing between the jet orifice and the deflection surface is critical and should be between 0.05 and 0.06 inch for maximum efficiency in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle of the type specified which is so constructed that the desired spacing of the jet and the deflection surface is always maintained during use.

According to the present invention, in an irrigation nozzle of the type specified, the jet and the deflection surface are rigidly connected by a pair of symmetrically disposed outwardly extending U-shaped arms, the midpoints of the arms being spaced from the jet by a distance sufficient to ensure a substantially uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle during use.

With nozzles of the type specified, it is found that in use a flame" consisting of a sheet of unatomized water of a fixed diameter is formed around the deflection surface, this sheet at a distance beyond the fixed diameter breaking up into atomized particles. In order to ensure uniform distribution of atomized water around, the inner edges of the arms at the midpoints should be spaced at a distance of at least one-half inch from the outer edge of the flame. In order further to assist in obtaining uniform distribution of the atomized water, the midpoint of the arm is flattened and the inner edges of the arms at and adjacent to their midpoints are preferably formed as knife edges.

The U-shaped arms may be connected to the jet and the deflection surface in any convenient manner, but are preferably formed integrally therewith. For maximum rigidity, the nozzle is preferably made of metal.

One embodiment of the invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an irrigation nozzle according to the invention FIG. 2 is a plan view of the nozzle of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an end view of the nozzle of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the irrigation noule comprises a jet of frustoconical form having a longitudinal bore 11 which is adapted to receive one end of a tubular member 12, one end of which is flush with the upper face of the jet 10, the other end of which projects from the lower end of the jet 10 and is provided with an external screw thread 13 for attachment to a supply of water under pressure. The thread 13 may be of any standard size, for example, one-fourth inch and five-sixteenth inch 8.5. brass and metric coarse and metric fine threads. The member 12 may conveniently be arranged to be removably mounted in the bore 1], so that members having threads of various sizes may be substituted as required.

The upper portion 14 of the member 12 is of narrower cross section and forms a discharge .passage for the water which opens at the flat upper surface of the jet. Above the jet l0 and spaced therefrom by a distance of 0.050.06 inch is arranged a planar deflection surface 15 formed on a disc-shaped member 16, the plane of the surface 15 being perpendicular-to the axis of the bore 14 and thus to the axis of a stream of water issuing therefrom.

The jet I0 and the disc-shaped member l6 are rigidly connected by two outwardly directed symmetrical U-shaped arms 17 and 18, the upper and lower edges of these arms being provided with strengthening ribs 19 and 20 respectively. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, the outer sections 21 and 22 of the arms 17 and 18 respectively are of thinner section and the inner edges 23 and 24 respectively, of these sections are formed as knife edges. This assists in obtaining a uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle during use.

In order to ensure a uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle, the inner edges 23 and 24 are spaced at least one-half inch beyond the edge of the flame of unatomized water formed during use. Conveniently the distance of the edges 23 and 24 from the axis of the passage 14 is at least 2% inches.

The preferred size of the passage 14 is length three-eighths inch and diameter three thirty-seconds inch.

In operation, the nozzle will be mounted with the passage 14 substantially vertical, a supply of water under pressure being connected to the member 12. The stream of water leaving the passage 14 impinges against the deflection surface and is converted to a laterally directed spray of atomized water which is substantially uniform around the nozzle.

The nozzle shown in the drawings is preferably made integrally of metal, although other materials may be used, if desired.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by letters patent of the United States is:

1. An irrigation nozzle comprising a jet adapted to be connected to a supply of water and having a delivery orifice through which a stream of water is delivered in use, and a planar deflection surface located in the path of said stream with its plane at right angles to the axis of said stream, wherein the jet and the deflection surface are rigidly connected by a pair of symmetrically disposed, outwardly extending, U- shaped arms, the midpoints of the arms being disposed substantially in the plane of the delivery orifice of the jet and spaced from the jet by a distance sufficient to ensure a substantially uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle during use, and said arms at and adjacent to their midpoints being flattened relative to the remainder of said arms and having a blade-shaped profile and inner edges formed as knife edges so that substantially uninterrupted and even distribution of atomized water is achieved.

2. An irrigation nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the planar deflection surface is axially spaced from the delivery orifice by a distance of about 0.05 to 0.06 inches.

3. An irrigation nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the knife edge of each arm is spaced from the delivery orifice a distance of about 2% inches.

4. An irrigation nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arms are formed integrally with said jet and said deflection surface.

5. An irrigation nozzle as claimed in claim 1 which is made of metal. 

1. An irrigation nozzle comprising a jet adapted to be connected to a supply of water and having a delivery orifice through which a stream of water is delivered in use, and a planar deflection surface located in the path of said stream with its plane at right angles to the axis of said stream, wherein the jet and the deflection surface are rigidly connected by a pair of symmetrically disposed, outwardly extending, U-shaped arms, the midpoints of the arms being disposed substantially in the plane of the delivery orifice of the jet and spaced from the jet by a distance sufficient to ensure a substantially uniform distribution of atomized water around the nozzle during use, and said arms at and adjacent to their midpoints being flattened relative to the remainder of said arms and having a blade-shaped profile and inner edges formed as knife edges so that substantially uninterrupted and even distribution of atomized water is achieved.
 2. An irrigation nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the planar deflection surface is axially spaced from the delivery orifice by a distance of about 0.05 to 0.06 inches.
 3. An irrigation nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the knife edge of each arm is spaced from the delivery orifice a distance of about 2 1/2 inches.
 4. An irrigation nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arms are formed integrally with said jet and said deflection surface.
 5. An irrigation nozzle as claimed in claim 1 which is made oF metal. 